Weight Increment Increasing and Reducing System

ABSTRACT

An exercise machine including a weight stack composed of a plurality of separate weights; a lifting bar that extrudes through the weight stack of exercise machine disposed for movement within the weight stack where; a selector pin extendable from within a selected weight plate of the weight stack for removably securing a portion of the weight stack to the lifting bar, whereby the total weight carried by the lifting bar is determined by the portion of the weight stack removably secured to the lifting bar by the selector pin; a series of affixed pulleys of different sizes, and different cable or belt routing is disposed.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

This Weight Increment Increasing and Reducing System was designed to improve an existing exercise machine/unit currently in the fitness industry, most commonly described as a selectorized unit. Selectorized units relate to a single or multiple station weight lifting type exercise apparatus/machine having cabled linkage, a guide rod or shaft within center of a vertical stack of weight plates connecting to linkaged cable, having direct lifting capabilities, consisting of a guide rod or shaft with a series of openings whereby each opening of the guide rod or shaft is aligned with an opening within each weight plate contained in the weight stack, and a selector pin in which a user of the apparatus/machine manually engages the weight plate to the shaft by horizontally inserting the pin through the weight plate and shaft aligned opening, whereby selecting that weight plate and all of the weight plates above it, producing the weight load the user prefers. The problem with these existing selectorized machines is that the standard weight stack only allows for the user to choose his or her desired weight from a weight stack of one type of increment. For example, a typical machine only provides the user a choice of a stack of weights comprised of ten (10) pound weight increments, which can be too advanced for users' fitness level. In addition, as the cost of steel rises, so does the cost of weight plates suitable for this type of exercise machine.

By way of the present invention, the issues of a standard pre-set weight stack, a less effective workout, and a less cost-efficient method is solved. The exercise apparatus/machine of the present invention consists of a series of affixed pulleys of different sizes, and different cable or belt routing is disposed. By attaching or fixing two (2) pulleys of different diameters, larger or smaller, pre-loading one end of a cable or belt onto one of the affixed pulleys and connecting the other end of the cable or belt to a handlebar, which a user can engage to perform an exercise, then attaching one end of another cable or belt to the other affixed pulley of a different diameter of the first pulley, and connecting the other end of that cable or belt to the top of a lifting bar that runs through a plurality of weights within a weight stack, changes the total weight load selected by way of a reduction of the increment of the selected weight load or the increase of the increment of the selected weight load.

Until now, the existing Selectorized units typically comprised of one weight stack, of ten (10) pound increments, resulting in a less effective workout since the user is not able to customize his or her ideal weight load, forcing user to workout beyond his or her fitness level, or below his or her fitness level. The present invention would provide the user the ability to have multiple weight increments within the same ten (10) pound increment weight stack, thus creating a more effective workout. In addition, with various exercise machines of this type, numerous weight plates are necessary to purchase. With the present invention, and the ability to increase the weight load of a weight stack, less weight plates are necessary to purchase, thus reducing the cost of the overall exercise machine.

It should be noted that the present invention can be retro-fitted/adapted to other conventional exercise machines/apparatuses commercially available that do not contain conventional weight stack selectorized type units described in this application for present invention. The present invention can also be retro-fitted/adapted to other exercise machines/apparatuses commercially available that consist of other types of resistance and or weight load. For example, some exercise machines consist of resistance bands, hydraulic type resistance, etc.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

These needs are met by the present invention. In accordance with the present invention there is provided an exercise machine including: a lifting bar that extrudes through the weight stack of exercise machine disposed for movement within the weight stack where; a selector pin extendable from within a selected weight plate of the weight stack for removably securing a portion of the weight stack to the lifting bar, whereby the total weight carried by the lifting bar is determined by the portion of the weight stack removably secured to the lifting bar by the selector pin; a series of affixed pulleys of different sizes, and different cable or belt routing is disposed.

The configuration of a larger pulley pre-loaded with one end of a cable or belt, and the other end of the cable or belt connected to a handlebar, with a smaller pulley affixed to the larger pulley with one end of a second cable or belt connected to the smaller pulley and the other end of the cable or belt connected to the lifting bar that runs through a plurality of weights within a weight stack would reduce the weight load of the selected weight. The configuration of a smaller pulley pre-loaded with one end of a cable or belt, and the other end of the cable or belt connected to a handlebar, with a larger pulley affixed to the smaller pulley with one end of a second cable or belt connected to the larger pulley and the other end of the cable or belt connected to the lifting bar that runs through a plurality of weights within a weight stack would increase the weight load of the selected weight.

The Weight Increment Increasing and Reducing System can also comprise of multiple size pulleys of different diameters to achieve multiple weight increments within the same standard ten (10) pound increment weight stack. This can be achieved by affixing a larger diameter pulley to a smaller diameter pulley, then overlapping the smaller diameter pulley affixed to the larger diameter pulley with different larger diameter pulley(s), which would increase the weight increment of each weight plate, or by retracting the larger diameter pulley(s) to expose the smaller diameter pulley affixed to larger diameter pulley, which would reduce the weight increment of each weight plate. Increasing or reducing the diameter of one of the fixed pulleys would increase or reduce the increment of the selected weight of the standard weight stack.

Until this invention, the user of an apparatus/machine of this type did not have the ability to change the incremental weight load of each weight plate within the weight stack, whereby eliminating the ability to customize the weight load of the weight stack to his or her preference and/or fitness level. All of the apparatus/machines of this type, offer only one weight increment at a time, making it too difficult for the user to advance to the next increment of weight of each weight plate, or not challenging enough when user advances to the next increment of weight of each weight plate. The benefit of the present invention system is that it offers the user the safest and most effective workout, by eliminating strain or possible injury to the user by trying to achieve the next weight increment load which user may not be able to physically handle, and by providing the user the most optimum weight load based on his or her fitness level. By retro-fitting this invention to existing Selectorized units, users can customize the weight stack increment of an exercise apparatus/machine, providing optimum workout effectiveness. With the present invention, a standard weight stack of ten (10) pound increments can be customized to have multiple increments by changing affixed pully diameters, for example five (5) pound increments to twenty (20) pound increments or more, and anything in between, all achieved by the touch of a button.

The present invention includes exercise machines in which weight stacks are disposed horizontally, vertically, or any angle in between. The present invention also does not depend upon the size of the weight stack which may range between 10 and 500 pounds. In addition, the present invention can be retro-fitted/adapted to other conventional exercise machines/apparatuses commercially available that do not contain conventional weight stack selectorized type units described in this application for present invention. The present invention can also be retro-fitted/adapted to other exercise machines/apparatuses commercially available that consist of other types of resistance and or weight load. For example, some exercise machines consist of resistance bands, hydraulic type resistance, etc.

The system of affixed pulleys of different sizes, and the cable routing within these pulleys, means the system operates as a single component that is interchangeable with conventional selectorized exercise machines commercially available. Thus, existing exercise machines may be retrofitted to accommodate the device of the present invention without attaching multi-control devices to the exterior of the exercise machine, or changing the conventional weight plates and/or weight stack of a selectorized machine that is commercially available.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A more complete appreciation of the invention and many more other intended advantages can be readily attained by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the following drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1A is a perspective front view illustrating the use of the device of the present invention in combination with a conventional weight training machine; this figure also illustrates the present invention in the reduced weight load mode;

FIG. 1B is a perspective front view illustrating the use of the device of the present invention in combination with a conventional weight training machine; this figure also illustrates the present invention in the increased weight load mode;

FIG. 2A is an exploded view of the use of the device of the present invention illustrating the reduced weight load mode;

FIG. 2B is an exploded view of the use of the device of the present invention illustrating the increased weight load mode;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the coupling (individual larger pulley) of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the dual pulley system of the present invention; illustrating the smaller pulley that is affixed to the larger pulley;

It should be noted that the drawings are not necessarily to scale, but that certain elements have been expanded to show more clearly the various aspects of the present invention and their advantages.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The device of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B as part of weight-lifting machine 14 in which weight stack 8 is carried by lifting bar 3 which is mechanically secured by a pre-loaded cable 2 pre-loaded and secured onto large pulley 11. Pre-loaded cable 2 can also be routed on a single pulley 9 or multiple pulleys 9 that would be configured between handlebar 1 and large pulley 11. The user pulls downwardly on the handlebar 1 to lift the weight stack 8 upwardly. Raising the handlebar 1 consequently lowers the weight stack 8. Any conventional means for controlling the path of the weight stack may be included in the present invention, such as guide rods 7 parallel to the lifting bar 3.

Although the weight lifting machine 14 is shown as a cable-operated device, the present invention is generally applicable to any weight training machine having a stack of weights securable by a selector pin to a lifting bar, of which many types are known in the art. For clarity of illustration, the frame of the weight-lifting machine is not depicted.

It should be noted that the present invention can be retro-fitted/adapted to other conventional exercise machines/apparatuses commercially available that do not contain conventional weight stack selectorized type units described in this application for present invention. The present invention can also be retro-fitted/adapted to other exercise machines/apparatuses commercially available that consist of other types of resistance and or weight load. For example, some exercise machines consist of resistance bands, hydraulic type resistance, etc.

Thus, the combination of the weight stack 8 and lifting bar 3 can be oriented vertically, horizontally, or any angle in between. The weight stack may consist of more or less than the amount of weight that is depicted in FIGS. 1A and 1B. Lifting bar 3 may be longer or shorter than depicted, depending upon the size of the weight stack 8 supported by lifting bar 3. Lifting bar 3 can also be located in different locations of the weight lifting machine 14 for performing various exercises for different body parts.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, weight stack 8 consists of an engaged weight plate 16 which is secured to lifting bar 3 by the insertion of selector pin 4 through the lifting bar opening and the weight plate opening. Both weight stack 8 and lifting bar 3 have individual openings that line up in respect to each other to engage a particular weight load to the lifting bar 3.

Each individual weight plate 15 will support all individual weights within the weight stack 8 resting on it. The weight to be initially lifted is selected by securing selector pin 4 from the engaged weight plate 16 to the lifting bar 3, thus supporting each weight plate 15 above the engaged weight plate 16, creating the user selected weight load. The weight to-be initially lifted is selected by selector pin 4, as depicted in FIGS. 1A and 1B. The present invention, Weight Increment Increasing and Reducing System 19, included as a mechanism to the weight lifting machine 14, multiplies the number of options of the weight increment of each weight plate 15, making the weight load of each weight plate 15 lighter in succession or heavier in succession.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the Weight Increment Increasing and Reducing System 19 illustrates the increasing and reduction of the weight by means of the combination of different various sizes of pulleys. FIG. 1A illustrates the weight lifting machine 14 in a reduced weight load mode 18 whereby the handlebar 1 is connected to a pre-loaded cable 2 that is pre-loaded on a large pulley 11, then a second cable to weight stack 12 is connected to the small pulley 10 on one end, and the other end of the cable to weight stack 12 is connected to the lifting bar 3. This configuration would reduce the weight load of each weight plate 15 whereby offering the user the ability to adjust his or her desired weight load.

FIG. 1B illustrates the weight lifting machine 14 in an increased weight load mode 17 whereby the handlebar 1 is connected to a pre-loaded cable 2 that is pre-loaded on a large pulley 11, then a second cable to weight stack 12 is connected to the small pulley 10 on one end, and the other end of the cable to weight stack 12 is connected to the lifting bar 3, whereby the small pulley 10 is overlapped by a larger pulley/coupling 5, by user sliding the larger pulley/coupling 5 over the small pulley 10 by way of hand pusher 13. It should be noted that the hand pusher 13 can be designed in various ways, and positioned in various locations best suited for the user. This configuration would increase the weight load of each weight plate 15 whereby offering the user the ability to adjust his or her desired weight load. It should also be noted that the present invention can be designed with various pulley diameters/sizes. The large pulley 11, the small pulley 10, and the large pulley/coupling 5 all can be designed with smaller or larger diameters/sizes to multiply the user's incremental weight load choice.

FIG. 2A is one example of reduced weight load mode 18, whereby, the pre-loaded cable 2 is pre-loaded onto the large pulley 11, and the affixed small pulley 10 is connected to the cable to weight stack 12. This configuration would reduce the weight load of the weight stack 8 selected by the user, offering the user the ability to reduce the increment of each weight plate 15.

FIG. 2B is one example of increased weight load mode 17, whereby, the pre-loaded cable 2 is pre-loaded onto the large pulley 11, and the affixed small pulley 10 is connected to the cable to weight stack 12, whereby the small pulley 10 is overlapped by a larger pulley/coupling 5, by user sliding the larger pulley/coupling 5 over the small pulley 10 by way of hand pusher 13. This configuration would increase the weight load of the weight stack 8 selected by the user, offering the user the ability to increase the increment of each weight plate 15. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An exercise machine comprising: a weight stack composed of a plurality of separate weight plates; a lifting bar disposed for movement within said weight stack; a selector pin extendable from within a selected weight plate of the weight stack for removably securing a portion of the weight stack to the lifting bar, whereby the total weight carried by the lifting bar is determined by the portion of the weight stack removably secured to the lifting bar by the selector pin; a series of affixed pulleys of different sizes, and different cable or belt routing;
 2. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein said weight stack is vertically disposed.
 3. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein said weight stack is disposed at an angle to the vertical plane.
 4. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein said lifting bar is mechanically secured to a handlebar, whereby movement of said handlebar by a user of said exercise machine moves said lifting bar within said weight stack
 5. The exercise machine of claim 4, wherein said lifting bar is mechanically secured to said handlebar by a cable and pulley system
 6. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein said Weight Increment Increasing and Reducing System is secured to said weight machine;
 7. The exercise machine of claim 6, wherein said Weight Increment Increasing and Reducing System is mechanically secured to said handlebar by a cable;
 8. The exercise machine of claim 6, wherein said Weight Increment Increasing and Reducing System is mechanically secured by a second cable to said lifting bar;
 9. The exercise machine of claim 6, wherein said Weight Increment Increasing and Reducing System consists of a dual pulley system, a larger sized pulley affixed to a smaller size pulley, or different variations of pulley sizes/diameters;
 10. The exercise machine of claim 6, wherein said Weight Increment Increasing and Reducing System comprises of a dual pulley system, a larger sized pulley affixed to a smaller size pulley and an additional size pulley/coupling that overlaps one of the affixed pulleys within the dual pulley system, wherein the additional size pulley/coupling can be of various pulley/coupling sizes/diameters;
 11. The exercise machine of claim 6, wherein said means for moving pulley/coupling to overlap one of the affixed pulleys within the dual pulley system comprises a hand pusher controlled by the user, wherein different variations of said hand pusher is capable of being operated to move overlapping said pulley/coupling;
 12. The exercise machine of claim 6, wherein one of the affixed pulleys of said dual pulley system is pre-wound with a cable or belt and the other end of the cable or belt is connected to the handlebar, and the second affixed pulley of said dual pulley system is connected to a second cable or belt on one side with the other side connected to the lifting bar. 